Southwest Chicken Salad Bowl (High-Protein, Meal-Prep Friendly & Flavor-Packed)
Molly
This Southwest Chicken Salad Bowl is a vibrant, high-protein dish that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. Loaded with seasoned grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, crunchy veggies, and a creamy chipotle-lime yogurt dressing, it’s healthy comfort food that satisfies.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Meal Prep
Cuisine American, Southwestern, Tex-Mex
Servings 4 servings
Calories 460 kcal
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn fresh, frozen, or canned
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 avocado diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
For the Chipotle-Lime Dressing:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo finely minced
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp honey
- Salt to taste
Season the Chicken: Toss the chicken breasts with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Let it sit while you prep the other ingredients.
Grill or Sear the Chicken: Grill for 6-7 minutes per side or sear in a hot skillet until cooked through. Let it rest, then slice into strips.
Prep the Veggies: Rinse and chop the romaine, halve the tomatoes, slice the onion, and cube the avocado.
Mix the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, chipotle, lime juice, olive oil, honey, and a pinch of salt.
Assemble the Bowl: Start with lettuce, then layer on beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, onion, and chicken. Drizzle with dressing and dig in!
Secret Tips for the Best Southwest Chicken Salad Bowl
1. Use grilled or rotisserie chicken for extra flavor: For a truly flavor-packed Southwest chicken salad bowl, opt for grilled chicken with a smoky char or even shredded rotisserie chicken for a fast meal-prep shortcut. Both options keep it high-protein and satisfying.
2. Season your chicken boldly: Don’t hold back on the seasoning. A mix of cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and chili powder creates that classic Southwest flavor that ties the salad together.
3. Massage the greens before serving: Whether you're using romaine, spinach, or a spring mix, lightly massaging the greens with a squeeze of lime juice or olive oil helps improve the texture and boosts flavor absorption in your chicken salad bowl.
4. Don’t skip the black beans and corn: These two staples add fiber, plant-based protein, and sweet-savory depth to your Southwest salad. Fire-roasted corn or grilled corn off the cob takes it to the next level.
5. Add crunch with baked tortilla strips: For a healthy meal-prep friendly topping, slice corn tortillas into thin strips, spray with avocado oil, season, and bake until crispy. It gives your salad that satisfying crunch without the deep-fried calories.
6. Prep your toppings in advance: Dice red onions, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers ahead of time and store them in airtight containers. It saves you time all week and makes this high-protein lunch bowl a grab-and-go favorite.
7. Make a creamy dressing with Greek yogurt: Blend Greek yogurt with lime juice, cilantro, and a bit of hot sauce for a creamy, tangy Southwest dressing that’s packed with protein and flavor—no mayo needed!Keyword best salad for weight loss, chipotle lime chicken salad, dairy free southwest chicken bowl, easy southwest chicken salad, gluten free chicken salad recipe, healthy chicken lunch bowls, high protein meal prep salads, how to make chipotle yogurt dressing, low carb southwest chicken salad, southwest chicken salad bowl
